It's that time again, when we make our New Year's resolutions. Maybe this is the year you plan to get organized, stop smoking, or finally lose those extra pounds you've been carrying around. Of course, many people make ambitious resolutions every year, and then fail to follow through. Here is how you can make resolutions to create positive marketing habits, and make those habits stick.

Choose just a few things to do--or even one. The more things you try to do at once, the greater that chance that you won't keep to your resolutions. Choose one, two or three things you will do this year.

Make your resolutions "do-able." They should be ambitious, but not overwhelming. Do-able resolutions might include sending one press release a month, joining a professional association and attending at least 80% of the meetings, writing one new article each month and submitting the articles to newsletters and article banks, setting at least three sales appointments each week, following up with ten customers each month, etc.

Your resolutions must be specific. Note the examples above. Not, "Make more sales appointments," but a specific number.

Write them down. When you put them in writing, the resolutions become real. Post your resolutions above your desk or anywhere you will see them often.

Make a plan. How will you work these actions into your schedule? Put them on your calendar and treat them as important appointments. Put the meeting dates for your association on your calendar now, before it starts to fill with other obligations. Choose a day each week or month when you will do what you have resolved to do.

Reward yourself. Promise yourself something you enjoy when you keep your resolutions. Don't wait until the end of the year. It's March and you've sent press releases every month so far? Get a massage, go see that movie you want to see, or buy yourself a little treat--and pat yourself on the back.

Enjoy your success. If you are in the habit of marketing on a regular basis, you will start seeing results. Remember that marketing has a cumulative effect, so expect that even if you don't see huge jumps in business right away, you will start to see results and those results will snowball over time.

Feel free to revise your resolutions. If something isn't working, stop doing it and start doing something else. But when you see successes, you may be inspired to increase your efforts and do even more of what is working.

Cathy Stucker

As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady.com, has helped thousands of people discover creative paths to success on their own terms. She is a frequent speaker and consultant who shows clients creative ways to attract customers and make themselves famous.

Cathy has appeared on many radio and television programs, and she has been featured in The Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, Black Enterprise, Woman's Day, and many other publications.